Category Archives: Sunscreen

Shira Esthetics Discusses SPF and How to Keep Skin Protected

SPF, as many of you may not know, stands for Sun Protection Factor. It is a number assigned to the sunscreen to measure how well the product will protect the skin from the UVB rays. There are many sunscreen and sunblock products to choose from including lotions, sprays, gels, roll on and even foaming. So, it can be confusing to choose one and determine how often you should use it.

First of all, sunscreen should be worn year-round, even in cold weather, on the surface of any visible skin such as your face. It is important to protect your face because damage from the sun includes cancer and premature aging. At Shira Esthetics, we have our sunblock with an SPF 30. You can check it out here: https://shiraesthetics.com/sun-care-spf30.html We have other moisturizers with SPF including the Shir-Radiance Ester-C Collagen Moisturizer and our day creams in the Omega-3 line.

It’s All About the Numbers

The numbers associated with SPF levels are for letting consumers know how much protection from the sun they are receiving.

  • SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays
  • SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays
  • SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays

UVA and UVB rays

UVA rays are long-wave Ultra-Violet and UVB are short-wave Ultra Violet rays. UVB rays can burn into top layers of skin, while UVA rays penetrate deep into the dermis, which is the thickest layer of the skin.

Keeping your skin unprotected can cause premature skin aging, wrinkling, and may even suppress your immune system. Specifically, UVB rays will burn your skin’s superficial layers, which then puts you at a greater risk of developing skin cancer. When it all comes down to it, sunburned skin doesn’t just feel awful – it can cause even greater damage to your overall health.

Sunscreen vs Sunblock

While both sunscreen and sunblock may be used interchangeably in reference to sun protection lotions and sprays, there is actually a difference. Sunscreen uses different ingredients than sunblock. The ingredients in sunscreen are absorbed into the skin and literally “screen” the skin from the sun and reflect the rays while sunblock forms a barrier closer to the surface of the skin and “block” the rays from damaging the skin. The ingredients used in a sunblock typically include minerals and natural ingredients such as Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide.

High SPF

You will see many sunscreens with high SPF like 75 or 100. Those actually aren’t any more effective than SPF 50. Consumers assume they are getting way more protection from SPF 100 so they tend to stay out in the strong sun longer, and/or apply additional sun protection less often. In the long run, this can lead to more damage to your skin. Stick to SPF 40 or 50 and remember to re-apply!

It is also important to remember the need to protect your lips. Lips and ears are areas of the body often forgotten. They make special lip balms with SPF that are ideal for protecting your lips.

Shira is great for all your skin care needs including organic skin care products online. To learn more about all of our great products that will help keep your skin protected, please feel free to browse our site!

3 Common Sunscreen Misconceptions

Most people know why they should wear sunscreen (as well as how important is to their health), but there are some individuals that do not use it properly. Keep in mind that, even though you are using it, you could still be putting yourself at risk for skin cancer, premature aging and sunburn.

A higher SPF number doesn’t necessarily mean more protection.

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), those who wear sunscreen have been led to believe that the greater the SPF value is, the more protection they have. However, buying a sunscreen with SPF 100 over one with SPF 50 will not make much of a difference. In fact, they found that SPF 50 will protect individuals from 98% of the sun’s rays and that SPF 100 will protect individuals from 99%. Although this 1% jump is a huge deal for some people, those who believe that they can spend more hours in the sun because they are wearing SPF 100 will eventually find that there is not much of a difference.

Never think applying sunscreen one time will ever do the trick.

Some people, especially those who tan very easily, assume that applying sunscreen once is enough. Unfortunately, those who are swimming, sweating or are constantly wiping themselves with a towel, will need to reapply it every couple of hours. Even just sitting in the sun (without doing any of the three things we just mentioned) is cause to reapply sunscreen because, unfortunately, sunscreen breaks down after a few hours.

A cloudy day does not mean that you will not get burnt.

Even though it’s a cloudy day, almost 50% of the sun’s rays can still reach you. Also, don’t think that, because you are inside, you are protected. Unless the blinds and curtains are closed, nearly 80% of the sun’s rays can get through and harm your skin.

As a company that sells sunscreen and skin care products online, we know that it is important to provide our customers with the right products, as well as those that will prove ideal for their skin type. Therefore, we cannot stress enough the importance of wearing sunscreen, and properly using the right type to prevent sun damage!

4 Reasons Why You Should Wear Sunscreen

We all know the main reason you should wear sunscreen—you won’t get burnt! But, there are also many other reasons why you should… Many of these reasons should be obvious to people concerned with their skin, but they might not be for those who are left wondering why they keep getting freckles!

Reason #1 – The ozone layer is wasting away, and you need protection!

What is this ozone layer everyone keeps talking about? If you didn’t know, the “ozone layer” is what prohibits the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays (radiation) from damaging the earth and its inhabitants. But, because of the amount of pollution in the air these days, the ozone layer is deteriorating. Therefore, being that the earth’s natural defense against radiation is depleting, people need to turn to another form of defense—sunscreen.

Reason #2 – Skin cancer rates are higher than they have ever been before!

Because the ozone layer is depleting, this means that there is an increased risk of skin cancer. Also, just because cancer does not run in your family, that doesn’t mean you cannot get cancer. In fact, one article we found stated that since 2000, melanoma cases found in both men and women have been in increasing by an average of 1.5% every year! The fact of the matter is that if you spend time in the sun and want to lessen your chance of having skin cancer, apply sunscreen every few hours!

Reason #3 – Fewer freckles, and less skin discoloration.

Have you ever wondered why you have more freckles on your skin after getting out of a tanning booth or after spending a day in the sun at the beach? If you spend a lot of time out in the sun without any sunscreen, you will get freckles. Freckles, which are created by cells called “melanocytes,” are produced as a byproduct from these cells attempting to protect you from sun damage. So, imagine when you expose your skin to ultraviolet rays without sunscreen? Your body will produce more melanocytes, and thus more freckles will appear. If you don’t like the freckles you have already, wearing sunscreen will help you prevent them from forming!

Reason #4 – It prevents premature aging!

If you didn’t know that sunscreen can help prevent premature aging, we are shocked! Getting older is inevitable, but using sunscreen will prevent signs of aging such as wrinkles, lines, and loss of elasticity. At Shira Esthetics, we have plenty of products that will help prevent premature aging, and many of them are not just sunscreens, they hydrate your skin. Because, after all, keeping your skin hydrated is extremely important!

There are many reasons why you should wear sunscreen. However, finding the right sunscreen to apply is just as equally as important. Not one person’s skin is the same, and it is imperative to test the waters to find the best one that works for you. If you have any questions about our sunscreen or skin care products, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.